Sunday, December 2, 2012

Tetrahedron: the Four Fires

The Platonic solid associated with fire is the tetrahedron. This is a four-side figure of triangles. (See link for an image.) Three sides are always visible  one is hidden. This figure is especially important in my visualization of the soul and method of its operation. In the lore of the Western Tradition there are four aspects of fire volcanic, solar, astral and latent. These are associated with the four sides of the solid.

Researching these aspects of fire in Heremetic lore is pointless. I have been told again and again there is nothing to be found. In order to understand them, one must look to physics, fire science and meditation.

Today, in the shower, I had a personal epiphany about these forms of fire. So, right now I am working with this.

Volcanic is that fire which is so creative that it is destructive. It can best be shared as INRI, Igne Natura Renovatur Integra (All Nature WIll Be Renewed By Fire). This is the side that in operation of the soul must be left unseen. Revealing it makes one's fellow humans recoil into denial. No one wants to get renewed through fire!

Solar is that fire that sustains life. It is the perpetual expression of the life force. It's image is the solar sigil. This is forefront as microcosmically it is our personality.

Astral, this is the fire that creates something new. This is astral action that builds something there that it may manifest here. Its image is the lightening bolt. This can remain in sight because no one can see it.

Latent heat is the heat within all things at rest. It is the heat of the seed, potential. Yet it is also the the residual spent force of creation, like warm charcoal after a barbecue. The heat of the physical form. This is the only one I have ever heard anyone try to explain.

Some may read this and say this is not a big deal. For me, it is huge as I delve into the nature of the soul.


7 comments:

CobaltWitch said...

Would it be correct to think of volcanic fire as fire of earth, solar fire as fire of fire, astral fire as fire of air, and latent fire as fire of water? Or is that stretching things too far?

Anonymous said...

I found that it was particularly useful to download a copy of the digital template for building a tetrahedron, and then painting it with four colors of fire, as indicated in the Golden Dawn color systems.

I don't have to visualize it blind, so to speak. I have an object in Malkuth that teaches me the process.

Robert said...

Thank you Andrew. I will do that.

Cobalt, I think you are on the right track but your scheme doesn't jive with my ideas but who is to say which is correct? It could be both, either or neither.

To my way of thinking it would like like this:

Volcanic, fire of fire, King of Wands
Solar, water of fire, Queen of Wands
Astral, air of fire, Prince of Wands
Latent, earth of fire, Princess of Wands.

Of course, the tarot analogy would assume a four-fold nature of all the elements, which is not in align with the plantonic solids (the earth being a cube for example).

I can certainly see, how in the realm of human behavior each element has a destructive, persistent, creative and latent aspect.

I plan to explore more of this.

Lavanah said...

Am I the only one to be amused that this came to you while under a shower of water?

J.C. said...

Simple, but I've taken something from this for my work with the Platonic Solids. I like how you turn the symbol into a reflection of your very soul. I think the same can be done with the other solids and their corresponding elements.

Oh, and I love the tarot correspnondences idea.

:-)

Robert said...

Lavenah: I was too
JC: I am glad you found value in my ramblings
I have been too that I am one of the few that is delving into soul nature. I am hoping to contribute to the qabalistic knowledge base on the topic

Daphne Lykeion said...

I would also say that solar fire, while sustaining life also decays the remains following death. We can see this idea in Apollon who is very much a god associated with fire, and his harnessing of the sun in order to decay the remains of the dragon Delphyne causing her to rot (pytho.